How can you learn to better see-and appreciate-the world of plants? In The Botanist's Eye: Identifying the Plants around You, explore the most common plant families in North America, as well as some of the fascinating species within them. Along the way, learn the history of botanical science, tips and tricks botanists use to identify seemingly similar plants, and the myriad ways plants define what it means to be human.
The Botanist's Eye: Identifying the Plants around You
Join an experienced botanist for 24 richly illustrated lessons on how to ID-and better appreciate-the marvelous diversity of plant species.
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Hoatzin from
Wanna Know What That Flower Is? Get a Field Guide
I really, really wanted to like this course because I enjoyed Professor Kleier’s Introduction to Botany. But I was frustrated by the disconnect between the subtitle and the lecture material. I’m not quite sure whether this was intended to be a more in depth botany course or a field guide that ultimately never identified anything. After all, the subtitle is “Identifying the Plants around You.” The first five lectures had little to do with that course subtitle. But Professor Kleier gave very good information that belongs in a botany course.
The course then focuses on plant families that one would ostensibly encounter in North America. Because that list numbers 272 families, the line had to be drawn somewhere. Most lectures cover three or four plant families and may name a few species in the families. But that is as far as it goes! The focus often gets diverted from identifying plants one may find in a natural setting. In lecture 6, the waterlily family , Nymphaeaceae, is a focus. Featured are photos of the Blue Star Waterlily, Nymphaea nouchali, the state flower of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Lotus Waterlily, N. lotusi, of Africa, and the gigantic Amazon Waterlily, Victoria amazonica, from South America. Curiously, the Fragrant Waterlily, N. odorata, which is called “invasive” is not identified as a species endemic to the northeastern United States. Nor is there any mention of another North American endemic waterlily, Yellow pondlily, Nuphar lutea. In Lecture 7, one of the families discussed is Arecaceae, the palms. There are 14 palm species indigenous to the United States and two, the coconut palm and date palm are not native but have naturalized. But does Dr. Kleier discuss how to identify a Buccaneer Palm (in the genus Pseudophoenix), a Sabal Palm (in the genus Sabal) and a Needle Palm (in the genus Phapidophyllum)? Nope. All are native to Florida, and very distinct from each other. “Palm” is as far as you are going to get. But there is a digression about the proliferation of oil palm plantations that are jeopardizing many native habitats around the world. In Lecture 8, the discussion on orchids is fascinating and generously supplemented by visuals. Extensive discussion of insect pollination and development of the flowers, but just one nod to orchids that grow in North America, the fairy slipper. (No mention of the taxonomic name, presumably Calypso bulbosa.) But there are over 200 orchid species native to the United States and Canada per the North American Orchid Center.
The tendency to digress from native species, those that might be “Plants around You,” to exotics is a major liability of the course. One of the families discussed in Lesson 19 is Rubiaceae which Professor Kleier identifies as a primarily tropical family. Although it is a large family with about 600 genera, the plants that receive the most attention are ipecac, quinine, coffee, and the genus Coprosma. These are not plants one is likely to run across while hiking in the mountains or even wandering through city parks. The genus Galium has a few representative species native to the United States. Many gardeners will recognize G. odoratum, Sweet Woodruff, as a member of this family, but it is native to Europe. Gardenias are often found in the United States. While commonly found in southern states, it is a tropical genus, and the only state with a native gardenia is Hawaii.
As a botany course, this series has fascinating facts, plenty of excellent visuals, and lots of scientific terminology which makes it worthwhile if you are interested in upping your game after watching Kleier’s Introduction to Botany. But as a course on identifying those beautiful pink penstemons you found in Zion National Park or the orchids of Allegheny National Forest, it’s not going to help.
I’m not crazy about the recent shift to taking the lecturer out of the “classroom” and sticking them in front of a static background (or sitting in a chair to give the impression of a fireside chat.) A hands-on demonstration of how to examine a specimen to make a species identification would have enhanced the course, as would Professor Kleier's actually holding specimens and pointing out pertinent features.
The course guidebook is quite good for outlining the characteristics of families. It gives salient information in bullet points and has helpful photos. There are a few quizzes. The bibliography looks helpful for finding handbooks.
My suggestion is always stop at the visitors’ center of a national park or state park and see if they have a field guide to the plants in that area. Or search the internet for relevant apps. Enjoy your walk!
Date published: 2024-12-29
Rated 4 out of
5
by
kait from
A little tedious but worthwhile
I learned a great deal from this course and am very glad I watched it! The subject matter here is a bit tedious, as she's essentially presenting an abbreviated field guide. However, she makes an effort to highlight memorable rules of thumb and familiar or interesting species in each family, and she adds factoids and anecdotes that make some of these plants really stick in the memory. Before watching this course I had very little knowledge of plants beyond what I remember from my high school education, and little interest, but I've since picked up a local field guide and become an enthusiast!
Date published: 2023-02-26
Rated 1 out of
5
by
biji1956 from
Black &white for plants
I was very disappointed. Was more like a talk and not much in pictures.
Date published: 2022-11-22
Rated 3 out of
5
by
KrisvM from
Good information bad production
The presenter gives good information and is enthusiastic.
The filming is not ideal. Obviously in a studio and the speaker looks only in one direction, not always at the camera. It's distracting. I liked the older Great Courses way better; much more pleasant to watch.
Date published: 2022-11-04
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Ceanothus from
Good lectures
The lectures were substantial and well-prepared, but I think perhaps the video director needs to be replaced. The lecturer is so far over the top with emphatic expressions and gestures that I think the director must have insisted, no one would normally talk that way, not even in a lecture hall. It was a bit difficult to watch. Perhaps it would work in a huge hall where the audience is too far away to see much, but in this case the camera is very close and the expressions got a little scary at times.
Date published: 2022-09-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Danjameson from
Excellent coverage of a vast range of material.
Whilst I agree with other reviewers comments about the odd 'staging' - I may be old fashioned but I can't see the problem with a traditional lecture setting coupled with sophisticated use of computer graphics - but don't let this distract from Professor Kleier's excellent - and passionate - lectures. This is a very interesting course.
Date published: 2022-09-06
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Needles from
Misleading
Way too much info in a way too fast presentation with only brief flashes of words she is referring to. Poor way to film her- she was often looking to the side . I am sure she needed to be reading the script.
Date published: 2022-07-03
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Sweet Sue from
It is very informative. Like the visuals. I like the way information was organized and presented.
Date published: 2022-06-22
Overview
About
Catherine Kleier is the Associate Dean of Faculty in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at California Polytechnic State University. Prior to that, she was a Professor of Biology at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where she taught courses on general biology, botany, and ecology. She holds a PhD in Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Professor Kleier was awarded a National Geographic Society/Waitt Grant in 2011 to travel to northern Chile to explore populations of a rare, giant alpine cushion plant, Azorella compacta. In 2013, she was a Visiting Fulbright Scholar in the Department of Botany at the University of Otago in New Zealand, where she investigated facilitation in the alpine cushion plant genus Raoulia. In 2014, she was elected Faculty Lecturer of the Year at Regis University, and in 2015, she was named the Colorado Professor of the Year, sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Professor Kleier is also the presenter of the Great Course Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany.
Trailer
01: Why Learn the Names of Plants?
Knowing how to name plants can help you develop a better relationship with the outdoors. In this introductory lesson, get a brief overview of how life is divided and classified, walk through an example of taxonomy using a ponderosa pine tree, and consider helpful tools every good casual botanist may need.
30 min
02: Before There Were Flowers
Non-flowering plants have been on Earth longer than plants with flowers. Here, start with mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Then turn to ferns and fern allies and discover tried-and-true methods for identifying them. Lastly, consider several phyla of gymnosperms and their species, including the Gingko tree.
30 min
03: Plants Are Named like People
Dive into the many classification systems botanists used (and still use) to name plants. Among these are the binomial system popularized by Carl Linnaeus; the phenetic classification system, which aimed at revealing relationships based on shared characteristics; and the three ways botanists determine the ancestral traits of plants.
32 min
04: Organizing the Huge Diversity of Plants
Professor Kleier helps you to make sense of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG), which botanists now use to classify flowering plants. You’ll learn how APG came about, what it does, and why it’s so important to field botanists. Then you’ll explore the six guiding principles for naming a plant species.
30 min
05: The Language of Botany
From roots and stems to leaf hairs and fruits, learn to determine the parts of plants so you can make your own identifications in the field. What are the two main types of root systems? What are the most common leaf arrangements? What are the three different symmetry types for flowers?
32 min
06: What the Terms Monocot, Dicot, and Eudicot Tell You
Embark on your in-depth exploration of the major plant families. First, learn to recognize the difference between monocots and eudicots. Then, explore the most ancient plant family in North America and four basal angiosperms. Among the plants you’ll encounter are: water lilies, magnolia trees, pawpaws, and avocado trees.
26 min
07: Parts of Three: The Monocots
In this lesson, investigate monocot plants, which grow from bulbs and tend to bloom early in the spring. You’ll cover the Easter lilies of the Liliaceae family, the purple heart of the Commelinaceae family, the corpse flower of the Araceae family, and the Arecaceae (or Palmae) family with its instantly recognizable palm trees.
28 min
08: Monocots: Orchids, Asparagus, and Irises
Continue your look at monocots with a lesson on four more plant families: the Orchidaceae (the second largest family of flowering plants); the Asparagaceae (which does include asparagus as well as agave plants); the Amaryllidaceae (which includes daffodils and paper whites); and the iris family, or Iridaceae.
31 min
09: Grassy Monocots: Grasses and Relatives
The grasses, or Poaceae, are fairly easy to recognize—but are rather difficult to break down into individual species. There are four families you’ll learn about in this lesson: three which look superficially like grasses (rushes, sedges, and cattails), and the Bromeliaceae, or the pineapple family.
30 min
10: Early Eudicots: Buttercups and Poppies
Now, enter the largest group of flowering plants: the eudicots, which all form a good group because they all have a similar pollen structure. Professor Kleier discusses three families (Ranunculaceae, Berberidaceae, and Papaveraceae) and also shares the floral diagrams and formulas botanists use to remember plant family characteristics.
28 min
11: Eudicots: Crassula, Euphorbs, and Willows
You’ve already met some succulents in the Asperagaceae family, which includes agaves. Here, meet two other families that include succulents, the Crassulaceae and the Euphorbiaceae, and some other plant families that decidedly don’t include succulents but are related: Saxifragaceae, Violaceae, and Salicaceae.
29 min
12: Eudicots: Peas and Beans
The Fabaceae family is so diverse and so prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere that it deserves its own lesson. Home to important crops such as soybeans, green beans, peas, and alfalfa, this fabulous family is easily recognized by the “wings, banner, and keel” arrangement of the flowers.
27 min
13: Rose Eudicots: Roses, Mulberries, and Elms
The economically important rose family produces many tree fruits, including cherries, plums, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and almonds. Here, explore the rose family, the Rosaceae and some closely related families: the Moraceae, the mulberry or fig family; the Ulmaceae, or elm family; and the Cannabaceae, the hemp, hops, and hackberry family.
28 min
14: Eudicots: Squashes, Oaks, and Birches
In this lesson, look at the Cucurbitaceae, the cucumber and gourd family, and the Fagaceae, the oak family, both of which are defined by their fruit types. Also consider three families closely related to oaks: the walnut family (Juglandaceae), the birch family (Betulaceae), and the “she-oaks” common to tropical beaches (Casuarinaceae).
28 min
15: Eudicots: Maples, Cashews, and Chocolate
Meet five plant families that are mixed in terms of woody and herbaceous members. Begin with the Sapindaceae, which in addition to maples, includes lychee. Continue with the cashew family, the Anacardiaceae; the Malvaceae, the mallow family, which includes hibiscus, cotton, and chocolate; and the Geraniaceae, or the geranium family.
29 min
16: Brassica Eudicots: The Mustards
Why learn to recognize the Brassicaceae? Because, as you’ll learn, it's the sixth largest family in North America, including around 650 species. And one of them, Brassica oleracea, has been cultivated into kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, red and white cabbage, Chinese broccoli, and other delicious vegetables.
30 min
17: Pink Eudicots: Pinks, Cacti, and Relatives
In this lesson, learn the easiest way to recognize a carnation in the wild (hint: look at the leaves); gain a greater appreciation for the humble tumbleweed (also known as the Russian thistle); and explore the cactus family, with their iconic modified leaves (botanically called spines) and smaller bristles (called glochids).
28 min
18: Heath and Dogwood Eudicots
Which plant genus produces berries that are almost all edible? What relationship exists between roses and rhododendrons (Greek for “rose tree”)? How can you determine whether or not a tree or shrub belongs to the dogwood family? Discover answers to these and other questions about heath and dogwood eudicots.
27 min
19: Gentian Eudicots from Milkweed to Coffee
First, take a closer look at the milkweeds and dogbanes of the Apocynaceae family, known for their opposite leaves and milk sap. Second, learn about the Rubiaceae family, which gives us gardenias, quinine, and coffee. Lastly, consider the beautiful blue gentians in the Gentianaceae family—some of the only true-blue plants around.
29 min
20: Tomato-Type Eudicots
Most of the plants you’ll meet in this lesson are herbaceous and have petals joined at the base. They are the Solanaceae, or nightshade family (which includes tomatoes and peppers); the Convolvulaceae family, whose members are usually vines; and the Boraginaceae, whose generally hairy members include the forget-me-nots.
28 min
21: Minty Eudicots with Liplike Flowers
In this lesson that focuses on liplike flowers, Professor Kleier introduces you to one of the easiest plant families to identify—the Lamiaceae, or mints—and one of the hardest: the Plantaginaceae, or plantain family. Plus, explore an intriguing plant family, the Orobanchaceae, whose plants are partly (if not all) parasitic.
28 min
22: Sunflower Eudicots: More than You Think
What makes a weed a weed? Turns out, it’s not a botanical term at all—it’s just the name for plants that grow where they’re not wanted. In this lesson, you’ll meet two families: the bell-flower family, or the Campanulaceae; and the sunflower family, or Asteraceae, which includes everyone’s favorite weed, dandelion.
31 min
23: Parsley Eudicots: Plants with Umbels
Examine a family of plants (known for their compound umbel inflorescences and hollow stems) that include a great many herbs and spices—coriander, cumin, cilantro, dill anise, and fennel—as well as some very toxic plants including poison hemlock. Also, consider examples from the ginseng family and the honeysuckle family.
27 min
24: Now You See Plants
To conclude the course, Professor Kleier gives you a brief review of 20 plant families: 10 of the most speciose and 10 she considers just as important. Then, she offers her insights on the future of botany and how new genetic evidence could change how we identify certain plants.
29 min
